Broadband Equity: What a COVID Accessibility Program Told Us About Disproportionate Access
The global pandemic of 2020 did more than disrupt our daily lives—it unraveled fragile seams in our national fabric. Suddenly, our world became more isolated, restricted, and dependent on technology than ever before. Schools, once teeming with talkative students, grocery stores where old friends would meet by chance, and parks buzzing with future leaders and aspiring athletes, suddenly fell silent, replaced by Zoom calls, computer screens, and tired eyes. As many lamented the loss of in-person interactions, a greater national [...]
Serving the Public Good with Nuanced AI Policymaking
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just another tech trend. It holds tremendous promise for society. From detecting tumors invisible to the human eye to boosting food production yields and aiding wildlife conservation efforts, AI has already had a profound and tangible impact, with even greater potential ahead. In healthcare, AI tools like Mia are revolutionizing early cancer detection, giving patients a better chance of recovery and reducing the need for invasive treatments. In agriculture, programs like India’s Saagu Baagu [...]
Admissions Confirm Avanci’s Rigged Game
Recent revelations from a UK court hearing have shed light on the anticompetitive practices of Avanci, a self-described patent licensing “platform” for standard-essential patents (SEPs) covering important cellular technology standards and one of its largest members, InterDigital. As the internet of things (IoT) and 5G technologies continue to evolve, these practices could have far-reaching implications for innovation and competition. These admissions in connection with Avanci’s broader implications on competition are outlined in the paper Admissions Confirm Avanci’s Rigged Game. In [...]
Further Evidence Emerges That the AI Pre-Crime Units Are on the Wrong Case
Back in August, we shed some light on global enforcement agencies’ oversensitivity to potential future competition risks in artificial intelligence (AI)-related markets. From the perspective of small businesses in the app economy, the costs of government intervention to stop major investments propelling these sectors forward far outweigh its potential benefits. A recent National Foreign Trade Council poll now reveals that voters appear to agree with ACT | The App Association members that the federal government should be working to bolster [...]
Event Recap: AI and the U.S. Patent Landscape at Patent Quality Week 2024
On September 12, 2024, ACT | The App Association hosted its First Annual Patent Quality Week event, tackling one of the most critical topics in innovation today: the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the evolution of the U.S. patent system. Attendees enjoyed a curated selection of wine and food and stimulating conversations among patent experts from both the public and private sectors. The discussions highlighted a mix of optimism and concern about AI’s growing influence on patent quality and [...]